Flange greaser



Sept. 4, 1934. w. v. MALLORY FLANGE GREASER Filed Nov. 24, 1933 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 FLANGE GREASER Woody Vincent Mallory, Richmond, Va. Application November 24, 1933, Serial No. 699,614

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device designed for greasing the flange of a wheel such as used on a locomotive, a railway car or the like.

Heretofore it has been the practice to apply lubricating oils but this has been objectionable because the lubricant frequently flows onto the tread of the wheel and causes slipping.

It has also been the practice generally to provide valves for controlling the flow of the lubricant and these have not only added to the cost of production but have also been objectionable because they frequently get out of order.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flange greaser which can be produced at low cost, can be installed readily, is formed of few parts, and will act at all times to supply the flange of a wheel with a thin film of grease which will stay upon the flange and not run onto the tread of the wheel.

It is another object to provide a device of this characterwhich does not require the use of valves and depends solely upon gravity to feed the grease to the working parts of the lubricator.

Another object is to provide a flange greaser which will not supply grease to the wheel flange unless the wheel is in motion, the feeding action being produced as a result of the lateral vibration or motion of the wheel while rotating.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the flange greaser in position, a portion of the locomotive or other vehicle to which it is applied being shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the movable feeding tube. V

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3, Figure 1 showing the feeding tube in its spaced relation to its guide tube or holder.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference F designates portions of the frame of a locomotive, railway car or other vehicle supported by flanged wheels a portion of one of which has been indicated at W. To a portion of the frame is secured a grease cup or container 1 having a filling opening 2 normally closed by a plug or cap 3. An air vent 4 is employed to admit air under atmospheric pressure to the container at the top thereof.

Extending from the bottom of container 1 is an outlet pipe 5 the lower end of which opens-into a guide tube or holder 6 which is open at both ends and can be supported not only by pipe 5 but also by a suitably located bracket 7 or the like connected to frame F. This tube is disposed preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees to the vertical plane occupied by the outer face 0 of the wheel flange w. The lower end of the tube is spaced from the flange but is supported close to the adjacent portion of the tread of the wheel.

A feeding tube 8 is slidable freely within the guide tube '6, its outer diameter being somewhat less than the inner diameter of tube 6 so that sufficient space is left between the tubes to permit grease to work longitudinally of and betweenthe tubes until it reaches the lower end of guide tube 6. r

Feeding tube 8 has its upper end bent down wardly as indicated at 9 to form apendulum-like weight which acts to prevent the feeding tube from rotating out of proper position. The lower end of the feed tube has its top portion cut away so that an open scoop-like terminal 10 is thus provided the end of which is beveled at 11 so as to bear snugly against the outer face 0 of flange w. Small apertures 12 are formed in the top and side portions of the feeding tube 8.

In practice a lubricant in the form of a grease of proper consistency is placed in the container 1 so as to gravitate within pipe 5 to tube 6. The consistency of the grease used will depend upon the climatic conditions, it being understood that it should be of such a nature as to gravitate within pipe 5 but to be held back against free flow along tubes 6 and- 8 unless subjected to a drawing action.

The lower end 10 of the feeding tube is exposed beyond the end of tube 6, its open top being maintained uppermost by the weight of the depending upper end 9. The beveled end 11, as before stated, will contact with the surface 0 and as wheel W rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow it will wipe past the end 11. This wheel, like the wheels on all railway equipment, has a lateral movement relative to the frame and this will cause the feeding tube to slide upwardly and then gravitate downwardly.

Every time the tube 8 moves downwardly it draws with it a portion of the grease supplied to tube 6 by pipe 5. Portions of the grease will ultimately gravitate through the openings 12 into the lower portion of tube 8 while the remaining portions will flow along the outer side of tube 8. Both of these portions will ultimately enter the scoop-like portion 10 and be applied to the surface 0 which, as it moves downwardly, will pick up a film of the grease. By utilizing an open top or scoop-like end 10 the tube 8 will not become clogged as would be the case should the tube open only at its extremity where contacting with the wheel flange. As it is essential that the open top be maintained uppermost, the terminal weight 9 is important. It might be stated, furthermore, that air can flow freely into this terminal weight and longitudinally within tube 8 so that the grease will not be held back by suction or the creation of a vacuum. Should a solid rod be employed 7 instead of tube 8, grease in sufficient quantities could not be fed by reciprocation of the rod, as will be obvious but where a feeding tube is used the grease. can move not only between the two tubes but also longitudinally within tube 8.

,Any sand or other small particles which might be picked up by the flange of the wheel willnot clog the scoopelike end' 10 but will be carried on with the grease.

It has been found in practice that a device such as herein described will maintain efficient lubrication over many thousands of miles without requiring attention other than to refill the container as necessary.

An important advantage resulting from the use of the present invention is found in the fact that the flanges are lubricated at all times, thereby reducing the friction due to lateral pressures and also reducing the tendency of the wheels to climb the rails. Furthermore the wear upon the flanges is reduced to a considerable extent, so that the costsincident to wheel repairs are cut down to a large extent.

What is claimed is:

1. A flange greaser including a downwardly inclined guide tube, means for supplying grease thereto by gravity, a feeding tube mounted for free reciprocation within the guide tube and spaced therefrom to permit movement of grease between the tubes to the lower endsthereof, there 1y from the guide tube and having its top cutaway to provide a scoop-like terminal, there being an aperture in the feeding tube for supplying grease to the interior of said tube from the space between the tubes.

3. A flange greaser including an inclined guide tube, means for supplying grease thereto by grav- I ity, a feeding tube open at its ends and mounted for free reciprocation within the guide tube, the lower end of thefeeding tube projecting outwardly from the guide tube and having its top cut away to provide a scoop-like terminal, there DD-.- ing an aperture in the feeding tube for supplying grease to the interior of said tube from the space between the tubes, and gravity controlled means for maintaining the cut-away top of the feeding tube normally uppermost.

4. A flange greaser including an inclined guide tube, means for supplying grease by gravity to the tube, means for supporting the tube close to but spaced from the tread of a wheel at the outer side of the flange thereon, a feeding tube mounted for free reciprocation within the guide tube and spaced therefrom to provide a passage ill) for the movement of grease between the tubes to the lower ends thereof, there being an opening in the feeding tube for receiving a portion of the grease from said space and directing it into the feeding tube for gravitation therein,,the lower portion of the feeding tube having. its top cut away to provide a scoop-like terminal with a free end for wiping contact with the outer side of the wheel flange, and gravity controlled means for maintaining the open top of the terminal uppermost.

WOODY VINCENT MALLORY. 

